US3323626A - Vending machine control system - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1967 AKIRA ABE ETAL. 3,323,626

VENDING MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Aug. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 5 M Q: M [aw/2;? 26 Lia 12 a:

,7 a j 4 Maw/Z? 4; [1 3 2 a 2 1414 4Z0 E44 24 6d-@ ,4; 5/ J? J ,1 v A 44 J f 1; 95 1 V 63 194 5/ w J/ y a? W 1- 90 /0// 7245145 a if 4/ a/ J/ a/ 4/ J J 0 5 INVENTORS Ak/EA ABE ATTORNEY VOS/H/S'A KUMEGAWA Wlilllllililiiu This invention relates generally to the control art and more particularly to a control system for vending machines actuated by coins, which is capable of counting the value of coins introduced in a vending machine and dispensing an article, together with change, if necessary.

In most of the prior art vending machine control systems of the electrical type, relays and switches having mechanical contacts have been generally employed. Such mechanical constructions with mechanical contacts obviously are inferior to contactless constructions with respect to longevity and accurate operation.

The primary object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved vending machine control system which comprises electrical static components.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine control system which counts coins introduced in a vending machine and operates an article dispensing means to dispense an article when the total denomination of the introduced coins amounts to the price of the article to be dispensed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine control system which is capable of automatically returning change to the purchaser when the total denomination of the coins he introduced exceeds the price of the article he selected.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine control system which is capable of indicating the total denomination of the introduced coins.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an im proved vending machine control system having means for operating an electrical register for recording the price of the article dispensed at each sale and at the same time the aggregate sum of the prices of all the sales that have been made.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof With reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic circuit diagram of different portions of one embodiment of the invention, with FIG. 1 being located at the left-hand side of HG. 2 to complete the whole circuit.

It is assumed in the illustrated embodiment of the invention that three different kinds of articles priced at 40, 50 and 60 cents are sold, and that I-O-cent, SO-cent and one-dollar coins are acceptable.

Referring to FIG. 1 there are shown three proximity detectors 1t 11 and 12 provided in a vending machine for sensing coins of the three diiterent denominations, respectively. When the proximity detector 18 senses a 10- cent coin, it produces a signal which is applied to a Schmitt circuit 16 when the signal has its wave form rendered of a rectangular shape and then applied to a United States Patent 3,323,626 Patented June 6, 1967 "ice pulse counter 18 as a pulse signal. The counter 18 is composed of transistors and other statis logic elements and provided with output terminals 0, 1, 2, 3i, 4 and 20. When there is no input pulse signal applied to the counter, an output appears at the terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4, but not at the terminal t (and 20). When a first .input pulse is applied to the counter, an output appears at the terminal 0 and the output at the terminal 1 disappears with the outputs at the terminals 2, 3 and 3 continuing. Thus, every time one pulse is applied to the counter 18, the output terminal where there is no output is shifted from the terminal ii to 1, 2, 3 and 4. When five pulses have been counted, an output appears at the terminal 20 and is applied through a Schmitt circuit 22 to one input terminal 26 of an OR element 24.

When the proximity detector 12 senses a SO-cent coin, it produces a signal, which is applied to the other input terminal 28 of the OR element 24. The output signal of the OR element 24 has its wave form rendered of a rectangular shape by a Schmitt circuit 30 and then is applied to a counter 32 provided with three output terminals 0, 1 and 2. The counter 32 is such that when there is no input pulse applied to the counter 32, an output appears at the terminal 0 but no output exists at the other terminals 1 and 2. When a first input pulse is applied to the counter 32, the output at the terminal 0 disappears and instead an output appears at the terminal 1, with no output appearing at the third terminal 2. When one more pulse is applied to the counter 32, the output at the terminal 1 disappears with no output existing at the terminal 0 and an output appears at the terminal 2. The output at the terminal 2 of the counter 32 is applied to one input terminal 36 of an OR element 34.

When the proximity detector 14 detects a one-dollar coin, it produces an output, which is applied to the other input terminal 38 of the OR element 34. The output of the OR element 34 is applied to the set input terminal 42 of a MEMORY element 40 such as a flip-flop. In the drawings, this and other MEMORY elements are shown having two sections labeled with the numerals 0 and 1. Normally, the 1 section produces an output, with no output being produced by the 0 section, but when a set signal is applied to the set terminal connected to the 0 section, the output from the 1 section is discontinued and an output is produced by the 0 section. Under the condition, when a reset signal is applied to the reset input terminal connected to the 1 section, the MEM- ORY element is restored to the original normal condition. It will be seen that the output at the terminal 44 of the 1 section continues until a set signal is applied to the set terminal 42 of the 0 section, whereupon an output appears at the terminal 46 of the 0 section.

The output terminals 8 through 4 of the counter 18 are connected to one input terminal of OR elements 50 through 54, respectively. The output terminal 0 of the counter 32 is connected through 21 NOT element 60 to the other input terminals of the OR elements 50 through 54. The output terminals 0 through 4 of the counter 18 are also connected to one input terminal of OR elements 55 through 59, respectively, to the other input terminals of which is connected the output terminal 1 of the counter 32 through a NOT element 62.

The output terminals of the OR elements 50 through 59 are connected, respectively, to the ten input terminals of an amplifier 64, which has ten output terminals corresponding to the input terminals. The amplifier is so designed that an output appears at that output terminal the input terminal corresponding to which receives no input signal.

A digital indicator tube 68 is provided with one anode 66 and ten cathodes 70 through 79, to which are connected the ten output terminals of the amplifier 64, respectively. These cathodes are formed into the ten nurnerals through 9, respectively. As will be described later, when there is no coin introduced in the vending machine, a discharge is taking place between the anode 66 and the cathode 70 only so that the tube expresses the numeral 0.

The output terminals 44 and 46 of the MEMORY element 40 are connected respectively, to the two input terminals of an amplifier 80, which has two output terminals corresponding to! the two input terminals. This implifier is of such a construction similar to the amplifier 64 that an output appears at that output terminal the input terminal corresponding to which receives no input signal. Another digital indicator tube 86 is provided with one anode 82 and two cathodes 84 and 85, to which are connected the two output terminals of the amplifier 811, respectively. The cathode 85 is formed into the shape of the numeral 0, while the other cathode 84, into the shape of the numeral 1.

A third digital indicator tube 88 is provided with a single anode 92 and a single cathode 90, which latter is formed into the shape of the numeral 0. This tube is so designed that discharge is always taking place between the two electrodes, thereby expressing the numeral 0 at all times.

The three indicator tubes 86, 68 and 88 may be arranged from left to right in the order given here on the front panel of the vending machine, with the word cents being given at the right-hand side of the tube 88, so that the numerals appearing on the tubes may indicate in cents the donomination of a coin or the total denomination of coins introduced into the vending machine, as will be described later.

Lines 94, 96 and 98 are connected through NOT elements 63, 65 and 67 to the output terminals of the OR elements 54, 55, 56, respectively, and a line 100 is connected directly to the output terminal 46 of the 0 section of the MEMORY element 40. It will be easily seen that a signal appears on these lines 94, 96, 98 and 160 when a coin or coins introduced into the machine amount to 41 50, 60 cents and one dollar, respectively.

The output of the 0 section of the MEMORY element 40 is also applied to one of the input terminals of an OR element 102, whose output is applied through a line 104 to the counters 18 and 32 to reset them with a little time delay by any suitable means.

Referring to FIG. 2, there are show push button switches 110, 111, and 112 corresponding to 40-cent, SO-cent and 60-cent articles, respectively. These push buttons may be provided on the front panel of a vending machine, and are inserted between the set input terminals of MEMORY elements 114, 115 and 116 and the output terminals of OR elements 122, 123 and 124, respectively. The line 94 is connected to one input terminal of the OR element 122; the line 96, to one input terminal of each of the OR elements 122 and 123; the line 98, to one input terminal of the OR element 124; and the line 100, to one input terminal of each of the OR elements 122, 123 and 124. These connections are made for the purpose of giving a dispense permission signal to the article dispensing means.

The outputs of the 0 sections of the MEMORY elements 114, 115 and 116 are amplified by amplifiers 126, 128 and 130 and then energize solenoids 132, 134 and 136, respectively. These solenoids are utilized to dispense 40-cent, SO-cent and 60-cent articles, respectively. To the reset terminals of the MEMORY 114, 115 and 116 are applied the output signals of OR elements 138, 139 and 140,

respectively. The outputs of the 0 sections of the MEM- ORY elements and 116 are also applied to the OR element 138, the outputs of the 0 sections of the MEM ORY elements 114 and 116, to the OR element 139; and the outputs of the 0 section of the MEMORY elements 114 and 115, to the OR element 140. These connections are made for the purpose of insuring that once one of the push buttons 110, 111 and 112 has been pressed, pressing of another of the push buttons will not result in dispensing of an article corresponding to that other push button. Suppose that the push button switch 116 has first been pressed. The output signal of the MEMORY element 114 is applied through the OR elements 139 and 140 to the reset terminals of the other MEMORY elements 115 and 116 to maintain these elements at the reset condition. Under this condition, if either of the push button switches 111 and 112 is pressed, no output will be produced by its 0 section, so that the solenoids 134 or 136 will not be energized.

It is necessary to deliver change when the coin or coins introduced exceed the price of the article to be dispensed. Such change delivery means is shown in FIG. 2 comprising OR elements 142 through 147, INHIBIT elements 152 through 157, amplifiers 162 through 167, solenoids 172 through 177 and an AND element 180. The output signal of the MEMORY element 114 is applied through lines 182 and 184 to one input terminal of each of the OR elements 142, 144 through 147; the output signal of the MEMORY element 115, through lines 186 and 188 to a second input terminal of each of the OR elements 142, 144 through 147; and the output signal of the 116, through lines 190 and 192 to a third terminal of each of the OR elements 142, 144 AND element has its two inputs connected to the line 96 and the output of the MEIMORY element 114, and has its output connected to one input terminal of the OR element 143, to the other input terminal of which is applied the output of the INHIBIT element 153, to the input terminal of which is applied a signal on the line 134. The INHIBIT elements 152, 154 through 157 have their input terminals connected to the output terminals of the OR elements 142, 144 through 147, respectively, and have their outputs amplified by the amplifiers 162, 164 through 167 and then applied to the solenoids 172, 174 through 177, respectively. The output of the OR element 143 is amplified by the amplifier 163 and applied to the solenoid 173. Upon energization, these solenoids 172, 174 through 177 each dispense one IO-cent coin. The INHIBIT elements 152 through 157 have their respective inhibit terminals 202 through 207 connected to the output terminal 44 of the MEMORY element 40, so that an inhibit signal is normally applied to these inhibit terminals. This inhibit signal is removed only when a l-dollar coin or coins amounting to one dollar have been introduced.

The output signals of the MEMORY elements 114, 115 and 116 are also applied through lines 211, 212 and 213 to an OR element 214, the output of which is applied and 226, at both of which an output is normally present. When a predetermined number of pulses have been counted by the counter 224, the output at the terminal 225 only disappears until the next pulse arrives. When an additional predetermined number of pulses have been counted, the output at the terminal 226 disappears. The outputs at the terminals 225 and 226 are applied to the other input terminals of the OR elements 217 and 218, respectively, and the output at the latter terminal 226 is applied through a line 228 to the counter 224 as a reset signal. The output signals of the OR elements 217 and 218 are applied through NOT elements 230 and 232 and amplifiers 234 and 236 to solenoids 238 and 240, respectively. A register (not shown) is provided having a predetermined number of keys for impressing the numerals 0, 4, 5 and 6 and the period When energized, the solenoid 238 operates the key for impressing the numeral which expresses the figure in the first place of the price of an article that has been selected. When energized, the solenoid 240 operates the key for impressing the period which expresses the end of a recording of the price at each sale, and separates recordings made of successive sales. Solenoids 241, 242 and 243 are energized by the outputs of the amplifiers 126, 128 and 130, respectively, to operate the keys for impressing the numerals 4, and 6, respectively. These numerals express a figure in the second place of the price of an article that has been selected.

The input terminal of each of the OR elements 102, 138, 139, 140 and the MEMORY element 40 that is designated by the reference sy mbol R is supplied with a signal when one cycle of operation of the system has been completed or when a cancel push button (not shown) has been pressed. The purchaser who wishes to refrain from the purchase may press the cancel push button after introduction of coins before pressing of the push button 110, 111 or 112.

In operation, when there is no coin introduced, the counter 18 produces no output at its terminal 0, while the counter 32 produces an output at its 0 terminal so that no output is produced by the NOT element 60. As a result, the OR element 50 receives no input signal at its two input terminals and consequently produces no output. The other OR elements 51 through 59 produce an output because of the persence of output signals at the terminals 1 through 4 of the counter 18 and also at the output terminal of the NOT element 62. The MEMORY element 40 produces no output at the terminal 46. As will be easily seen, these conditions result in the indication of the figure 0 by each of the indicator tubes 86, 68 and 88.

Suppose then that one IO-cent coin has been introduced into the machine. The proximity detector detects the coin and applies one pulse to the counter 18, whereupon the existing output at the terminal 1 disappears so that the discharge in the tube 68 is shifted from between the anode 66 and the cathode 70 to between the anode 66 and the cathode 71, thereby indicating the numeral 1. The indications on the tubes 68 and 88 are combined to express the numeral 10. Thus, as one coin is added, the discharge in the tube 68 is shifted and consequently the indication on the tubes is changed from 10 to 20, 30' and 40.

When five lO-cent coins or one SO-cent coin has been introduced, the OR element 24 produces an output, which is applied to the counter 32, so that an output is produced at the terminal 1 of the counter 32. This causes the NOT element 62 to be deprived of the existing output. With no output existing at the terminal 0 of the counter 18 at this time, the OR element 55 is deprived of its two input signals, so that a discharge is caused between the anode 66 and the cathode 75 of the tube 68, thereby indicating the numeral 5. Under this condition, if one more 10- cent coin has been introduced, the output at the terminal 1 of the counter 18 disappears so that the OR element 56 receives no signal at both its input terminals and the discharge in the tube 68 is shifted from between the anode 66 and the cathode 75 to between the anode 66 and the cathode 76, thereby indicating the numeral 6. It will be easily seen that as one 10-cent coin is added, the indication on the tube 68 is changed until the numeral 7 is indicated.

When ten l0-cent coins, two SO-cent coins or one 1- dollar coin has been introduced, the OR element 34 produces an output, which is applied to the set terminal 42 of the MEMORY element 40, whereby the element produces an output at the terminal 46. As a result, the discharge in the tube 86 is shifted from between the anode 82 and the cathode 85 to between the anode 82 and the cathode 84, whereupon the indication on the tube is changed from the numeral 0 to the numeral 1. At this time, both the tubes 68 and 88 express 0, so that the indications on the three tubes 86, 68 and 88 are combined to express the numeral 100. Thus, the value of the coin or the. total value of the coins introduced is indicated as cents.

The purchaser who has introduced the required number of coins then presses that one of the push button switches 110, 111 and 112 which corresponds to the kind of an article he wishes to buy. Mention has been made that upon introduction of coins, a signal appears on any one of the lines 94, 96, 98 or 180 in accordance with the value of the coin or the total value of the coins introduced. If the coins introduced amount to one dollar, any of the MEMORY elements 114, and 116 may be set by pressing the corresponding one of the push button switches 110, 112 and 113; if the coins introduced amount to 60 cents, the MEMORY element 116 only may be set by pressing the corresponding push button switch 112; if the coins introduced amount to 50 cents, either one of the MEMORY elements 114 and 115 may be set by pressing the corresponding one of the push button switches 110 and 111; and if the coins introduced amount to 40 cents, the MEMORY element 114 only may be set by pressing the corresponding push button switch 110.

Let it be assumed that a l-dollar coin has been introduced and that the push button switch 110 has been pressed. Upon closing of the switch 110, the MEMORY element 114 is set to produce an output, which is applied through the amplifier 126 to the solenoid 132, whereupon a 40-cent article is dispensed. At the same time, the output of the MEMORY element 114 is applied to the lines 182 and 184 and, since no inhibit signal is applied to INHIBIT elements 152 through 157 at this time as was previously mentioned, further to all of the solenoids 172 through 177 to energize them, whereupon each of the solenoids dispenses one l0-cent coin. Since the number of the solenoids is six, six lO-cent coins are delivered out as change to be given to the purchaser.

Suppose that the push button 111 has been pushed, with a signal existing on the line 100. The solenoid 134 is energized, and at the same time the solenoids 172, 174 through 177 are also energized through the lines 186 and 188, so that five 10-cent coins are delivered out as change. In a similar manner, when the push button 112 has been pressed, the solenoid 136 is energized and at the same time, the solenoids 172, 174 through 176 are energized through the lines 190 and 192, so that four l'O-cent coins are delivered.

When a signal is on the line 98, that is, coins amounting to 60 cents have been introduced, only the solenoid 136 is energized by closing the switch 1.12. In this case, no amount of change need be returned. 7

When a signal is on the line 96 due to introduction of a SO-cent coin or five 10-cent coins, closing the switch 110 or 111 will result in energization of the solenoid 132 or 134. Upon closing of the switch 110 corresponding to 40-cent articles, the AND element has both its input terminals supplied with a signal and produces an output to energize the solenoid 173, whereupon one l0-cent coin is sent out as change. However, the other solenoids 172, 174 through 177 are not energized because at this time an inhibit signal is applied to each of the INHIBIT elements 152, 154 through 157. It will be easily seen that the closing of the switch 111 will not energize any of the solenoids 172 through 177, because the INHIBIT elements 152, 154 through 157 are supplied with an inhibit signal and the AND element 180 has only one of its input terminals supplied with a signal.

When a signal is on the line 94 due to the introduction of four lO-cent coins, the closing of the switch 114) will result in energization of the solenoid 132 only, with all the solenoids 172 through 177 remaining deenergized.

When one of the push button switches 110 through 112 has been pressed, the corresponding one of the solenoids 132, 134 and 136 is energized. At the same time, the corresponding one of the solenoids 241 through 243 is energized, whereby the corresponding one of the keys of the register for impressing the numerals 4, 5 and 6 is actuated to print one of the numerals on a sheet of paper. It will be seen that the closing of the switch 110, 111 or 112 also causes a signal to appear on the line 211, 212 or 213. This signal is applied to the OR element 214, the output of which is in turn applied to the NOT element 216. As a result, the input signal to the OR elements 217 and 218 connected to the output of the NOT element 216 is removed. The output of the OR element 214 is also applied to one of the two input terminals of the AND element 222. Under this condition, every time one pulse is supplied from the pulse generator 220 to the other input terminal of the AND element 222, one output pulse is produced by the AND element to be supplied to the counter 224. When the counter 224 has counted a predetermined number of input pulses, the output at the terminal 225 disappears so that the OR element 217 is deprived of both its input signals. This causes the NOT element 230 to produce an output to energize the solenoid 238 to strike the key for impressing the numeral 0. The arrangement is such that the numeral is impressed at the right-hand side of the numeral 4, or 6 previously impressed. Thereafter, when an additional predetermined number of pulses have been counted, the other OR element 218 is deprived of both its input signals, so that the NOT element 232 produces an output to energize the solenoid 240 to operate the key for impressing the period at the right-hand side of the numeral 0 previously impressed, thereby indicating the end of the recording of the price at one sale. The arrangement is such that when a period has been impressed, the recording for the next sale is impressed on the next line in order to prevent mixing up of the numerals impressed at successive recordings, and such that when the period has been impressed, at the same time the aggregate sum of the price that has just been recorded and the previously recorded aggregate sum of the prices is recorded.

The removal of the signal from the output terminal 226 of the counter 224 and consequently the line 228 causes the counter to be reset.

A suitable means (not shown) may be provided for generating a signal upon completion of the recording by the register, to be applied as a reset signal to the OR elements 192, 138 through 140 and the MEMORY element at) so as to reset these elemtns, thereby completing one cycle of operation of the system.

A preferred embodiment of the invention having been illustrated and described, it should be noted that the embodiment is merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An electronic control system for vending machines actuated by deposit of coins of different denominations to dispense articles of different prices, comprising:

(a) a plurality of detectors adapted respectively to detect deposit of coins of different denominations, each detector being operable to produce a pulse upon deposit of each coin of denomination corresponding thereto;

(b) a plurality of article selection switches operable for selection of articles of ditferent prices;

(c) a plurality of article dispensing means respectively coupled to said switches;

(d) electronic coin value counting means having a plurality of output terminals coupled to said switches, said counting means including first and second pulse counters coupled respectively to receive pulses from first and second coin deposit detectors corresponding to lower and higher denominations, respectively, said second pulse counter being also coupled to receive a pulse from the first pulse counter upon deposit of the number of lower denomination coins equivalent to the higher denomination, and means coupled to said pulse counters and to said output terminals to provide dispense signals preconditioning only those output terminals coupled to switches corresponding to articles of price equal to or less than the coin value deposited, whereby upon subsequent actuation of one of said preconditioned switches the dispensing means coupled thereto is operated to release the selected article in response to the applied dispense signal; and

(e) change dispensing means coupled to said switches and to said counting means and operable to dispense the correct change upon actuation of said preconditioned switch when it corresponds to an article of price less than the coin value represented by said pulses.

2. The control system defined in claim 1, wherein said change dispensing means comprises a plurality of release means for dispensing coins of the same denomination, each release means being adapted to dispense one coin upon each energization thereof; a plurality of OR elements each for energizing one of said release means; and means for applying an input signal to the same number of said OR elements as the number of coins required to dispense the correct change.

3. The system defining claim 1 wherein said means for providing dispense signals includes a plurality of OR elements coupled respectively to said counting means output terminals, each of said OR elements having a plurality of inputs respectively coupled to receive from said pulse counters a preconditioning signal upon deposit of coins of value equal to or greater than the price of the article selectable by means of the switch coupled to said OR element.

4. The system defined in claim 1 wherein said article dispensing means include respective flip-flop elements each have a SET input responsive to the associated article selection switch, and a SET output, and a RESET input; a plurality of OR elements, each having its output coupled to one of said RESET inputs and having inputs responsive to the SET outputs of all of said flip-flop elements other than the flip-flop element to which its own output is coupled; whereby upon actuation of any one of said switches actuation of the remaining switches is rendered inefifective; and individual article release means responsive to said SET outputs respectively.

5. The system defined in claim 1 including means for recording multiple digit prices of articles sold, said recording means including individual first digit recording means each coupled to one of said article selection switches to record the digit corresponding to the first digit of the price of the article selectable by said switch, and second digit recording means having an input OR element responsive to all of said article selection switches and operable in response to actuation of a preconditioned one thereof to record a 0 as the second digit of said price.

6. The system defined in claim 1 wherein each of said pulse counters includes a plurality of outputs electrically conditioned successively by successively applied pulses, and wherein the means for providing dispense signals comprises first and second series of OR elements, each OR element having first and second inputs, the first inputs of said OR elements being responsive to respectively different outputs of the first pulse counter, the second inputs of the first series OR elements being responsive to one output of the second pulse counter and the second inputs of the second series OR elements being responsive to another output of the second pulse counter, the first output terminal of said counting means being responsive to an OR element in the first series and the second output terminal of said counting means being responsive to an OR element in the second series.

7. The system defined in claim 6 further including coin value indicating means comprising a plurality of indicators responsively coupled to be actuated respectively by different 0R elements in said first and second series to indicate the total value of coins introduced prior to selection of an article.

References Cited 10 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VENDING MACHINES ACTUATED BY DEPOSIT OF COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS TO DISPENSE ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT PRICES, COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF DETECTORS ADAPTED RESPECTIVELY TO DETECT DEPOSIT OF COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, EACH DETECTOR BEING OPERABLE TO PRODUCE A PULSE UPON DEPOSIT OF EACH COIN OF DENOMINATION CORRESPONDING THERETO; (B) A PLURALITY OF ARTICLE SELECTION SWITCHES OPERABLE FOR SELECTION OF ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT PRICES; (C) A PLURALITY OF ARTICLE DISPENSING MEANS RESPECTIVELY COUPLED TO SAID SWITCHES; (D) ELECTRONIC COIN VALUE COUNTING MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF OUTPUT TERMINALS COUPLED TO SAID SWITCHES, SAID COUNTING MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND PULSE COUNTERS COUPLED RESPECTIVELY TO RECEIVE PULSES FROM FIRST AND SECOND COIN DEPOSIT DETECTORS CORRESPONDING TO LOWER AND HIGHER DENOMINATIONS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID SECOND PULSE COUNTER BEING ALSO COUPLED TO RECEIVE A PULSE FROM THE FIRST PULSE COUNTER UPON DEPOSIT OF THE NUMBER OF LOWER DENOMINATION COINS EQUIVALENT TO THE HIGHER DENOMINATION, AND MEANS COUPLED TO SAID PULSE COUNTERS AND TO SAID OUTPUT TERMINALS TO PROVIDE DISPENSE SIGNALS PRECONDITION-

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